Review / We review the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds: does it make the perfect travel companion?

Sep 20 , 2019

The Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds make ideal travel companions. Photo: Kwok-wang Chow

Superior noise cancelling levels set Sony’s latest earbuds apart from the competition

Heaving a sigh of relief as I come to end of the terrifying Lights Out, I nearly jump out of my skin when I turn to see a woman kneeling at my seat in the darkened cabin. She is smiling, her lips are moving and it is obvious that she has been talking to me – or trying to – for some time. But I have heard nothing.

I rip off my earbuds and return to the smooth humming of the plane, and her profound apologies as she realises the fright she has given me. This won’t be the only time that I have to stop from yelping when I turn around to find one of the flight crew talking to me.

I’m taking my new Sony WF-1000XM3 true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds out for a test run on flight CX749 to Johannesburg, and it hasn’t taken long to discover that the noise cancelling levels are way more than respectable. That is what will set Sony’s latest earbuds apart from the competition.

I have never been a fan of bulky headphones when travelling; it’s the reason my Bose QuietComfort 35, the firm favourites of frequent travellers, have been languishing in their case for the past year. Another petty reason is that wearing the over-ear headphones for an extended time leaves an indentation in your hair!

Full set of Sony earbuds. Photo: Kwok-wang Chow

But, back to my Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds (can we talk about these impossible-to-remember names you insist on naming your products, Sony?). Their biggest flaw compared to the Bose is that they cannot be used for in-flight entertainment since you cannot connect them to the system. So if you’re planning on using them to watch movies on the system, these are not the earpieces for you. They’re also not for the gym or exercise, as they are not water resistant.

As I prefer to bring my own entertainment either on my iPhone or my iPad, that doesn’t bother me. My biggest concern when I pop the earbuds into my ears at the start of the midnight flight is whether one of them should get dislodged if I fall asleep halfway through my movie, which I frequently do.

The WF-1000XM3 earbuds are a close to perfect fit. The in-ears come with seven sizes of earbuds, which is more than most of the competitors provide. If I loved the fit of the Klipsch T5 True Wireless (see our review here), then I am ecstatic over the WF-1000XM3s.

Sony has applied an ergonomic tri-hold structure designed to make contact with three different points on your ear for a “more secure, comfortable fit”. Added to that, a high-friction rubber surface keeps the earbuds snug and secure. You insert them in the ear at a slight downward angle and twist to lock in place. You hardly feel them after that.